Tag Archives: beach

Have you always wanted to learn to surf? Would you like to take your surfing to the next level? Join Heather Alley and myself for a one week intensive. Space is limited and we are really looking forward to this trip! For more info and to reserve your spot click here.

This Saturday 4-18-2015 come join us at Paradise Cove, CA for the annual SUP4cleanwater fundraiser. There will be races, raffles and a big beach party after. You can even rent a board from Pro-SUP and all proceeds go to keeping Santa Monica Bay clean.

The Art of Craft has partnered with photographer Timothy Hogan to create theFINproject, a series of limited edition tees and prints. 10% of sales goes directly to the Surfrider Foundation. Buy yours here.

We are obsessed with these Upcycled Surfboard Resin earrings in beautiful colors from our friend Donna at Betty Belts. (And just in time for Valentine’s day!) Check out these eco-friendly, one-of-a-kind pieces here.

I am writing you from the Big Island of Hawaii. The only bad thing about the Big Island is that, because it is blocked from swell from the rest of the islands, there is very little surf in the summer months. The good thing about the Big Island? Everything else. I have family on the island so I have spent a lot of time here, and this trip I felt like I really dialed it in. This relaxing vacation included daily swimming and snorkeling, yoga, walks down to a sea turtle sanctuary, hikes to secluded beaches, and a visit to a killer farmer’s market.

Big Island is known for its arid lava strewn land, and first-time visitors are often surprised. Parts of Big Island definitely don’t look like the Hawaii of people’s imagination. It looks more like this:

However, we took a ride to the island’s east side to visit Akaka Falls, a 442 foot free-falling waterfall. Not only were the falls breathtaking, the short walk around the park was a tropical paradise.

Other highlights included a trip to Hawi, a small, artsy town in the north of the island with arguably the best restaurant on the island called Bamboo. Whatever you order, make sure to have their lilikoi iced tea.

A favorite adventure is the hike down to Kiholo Bay. My friend Shelly came for part of the stay, and I dragged her down over arid lava fields, where literally hundreds of goats crossed our path, to the oasis of Kiholo Bay. Kiholo Bay is known for two things, sea turtles and sharks. I knew the beaches were sharky, but didn’t realize it was a shark breeding ground. Yikes! We saw plenty of sea turtles, and thankfully, no sharks.

So while I was sad, but not surprised about the surf, the good thing about calm, flat seas is that the snorkeling is breathtaking. I spent my last day swimming the bay at the Mauna Kea resort. After a time viewing the beautiful parrot fish, angel fish, tangs, wrasse, and, of course, the humahumanukanukaapuaa, I spotted a sea turtle and it let me swim with it across the bay. It was absolutely magical.

Here at Surf Like a Girl we are slightly obsessed with mermaids. That is why we are excited to see Susan Rockefeller’s short film Mission of Mermaids, a poetic ode to the seas and a plea for their protection.